Caitlyn, The Dog Found with Her Muzzle Taped Shut is Making a Remarkable Recovery

A pit bull named Caitlyn nearly lost her life because of the cruelty of one man, who has since been arrested for tightly taping her snout shut.  Now she is getting tons of love and care, and is healing very well.

A 15-month-old chocolate pit bull mix was found on the porch of a South Carolina resident who called 911 after seeing what horrible shape she was in.

“I have a dog that’s here at my house that I found and the dog’s mouth is taped shut with electrical tape, tongue hanging out its mouth, bleeding, and his tongue is completely black,” a 911 caller said, according to ABC affiliate WCIV. “I just don’t know what to do.”

She was taken to Charleston Animal Society, who got her immediate medical attention.  The blood flow had been completely cut off from her tongue, making the situation quite delicate.

“To leave this dog in pain, unable to eat or drink, and to now leave her in the position where her life is at stake because she may lose her tongue is heartbreaking,” said Aldwin Roman of the CAS.

Her story was posted on their Facebook page, and people began sharing it with the hashtag #Justice4Caitlyn in an effort to find her abuser.  On Monday, North Charleston police arrested William Leonard Dodson on the felony charge of animal torture.  Bail was set at $50,000.

“I don’t think $50,000 really matched the pain and suffering Caitlyn has had to go through,” Roman said after the hearing, according to the Post and Courier. “She is healing, but the damage has been done.”

Another dog was removed from his home, and court records state that Dodson “can not have [possession] of any animals.”

Caitlyn’s previous owner told WCIV that he sold her to a stranger for $10 on Memorial Day because she was tearing up his house and he worried that he might be evicted.

“Don’t let me find you, that’s all I can say,” the man said about his former dog’s abuse. “Because that’s part of my family that you just did some foul things to.”

However, an affidavit released during Dodson’s bond hearing, “paints a slightly different picture of what happened to Caitlyn, who had previously been named Diamond.”

Dodson is reported to have bought the dog for $20, but returned the next night to tell her former owner that he had taped her mouth shut because she wouldn’t stop barking.  The anonymous prior owner said the man laughed when he told him that.

The affidavit stated that the owner “had known Dodson for a least a year and said he is ‘like a brother.’”

Dodson faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000 because he caused “excessive and unnecessary pain and suffering.”

Caitlyn, meanwhile, is recovering better than caregivers might have expected.  She is being treated at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mount Pleasant.

“This was intentional, someone was trying to hurt her,” said Dr. Kelli Kline. “They did it — they did what they went out to do. I am very, very surprised that she’s healing at this rate.”

She will be receiving cold laser therapy to encourage healing in her tongue, and just today she underwent surgery to have her lips and cheek fixed.  She is reportedly doing well, and will be eating and drinking on her own soon.

If you would like to donate toward Caitlyn’s care, please click HERE.  To follow her progress, click HERE.

To read the previous stories on Caitlyn, click here: William Leonard Dodson Has Been Arrested in the Animal Cruelty Case of Caitlyn the Dog That Was Found with Electrical Tape Tightly Wound Around Her Muzzle

Petco Says 'No Heat' Used in Grooming of Dog That Died at Virginia Store

No heat was used in the grooming process of a Virginia woman's dog that died while in the care of Petco, though a veterinarian who examined the dog said it likely died of heat stroke.

As ABC News reported on Monday, Marks said she dropped off 2-year-old Colby at a Petco in Midlothian, Virginia, early Friday morning and was told he'd be finished around noon. Marks said she started worrying when she didn't hear from the groomers by 1 p.m., so she called and was told to go to a local animal clinic.

Marks said she walked in and saw Colby on the vet's table with "glazed over" eyes. Marks said the Petco assistant manager told her they had given Colby a bath and he was in the drying unit when they found him.

"The groomers involved have been suspended while we complete a thorough investigation," Petco said in statement Monday night. The company also noted that "there was no heat used in the drying process during Colby's groom."

Marks said she doesn't understand how Colby's temperature was 105 degrees if heat was not used, referring to what she said the veterinarian told her after she saw Colby at an animal clinic near the Petco store in Midlothian, Virginia. The vet explained to Marks that Colby’s death was likely due to heat stroke, she said.

"Petco told me last night Colby was stressed to the point that his temperature rose, but I find that hard to believe," Marks, 51, told ABC News today, noting that Colby was in good health and had anxiety only at the groomer's.

The Chesterfield County Animal Services office is conducting the investigation of Colby's death at the store. There are no updates on the ongoing investigation, an official told ABC News, noting that they do not know when the investigation will be complete.

Marks called the situation "pure neglect" of Colby. During her conversation with a Petco representative on Monday night, she said the rep told her the groomers did not follow Petco protocol of checking on animals in the drying units every 10 minutes. But it wasn't clear from the company's statement on Monday night how the drying unit works if it does not use heat.

"It gives me peace of mind that they're looking at disciplinary actions for the groomers because it means they can't do this to any other animal," she said. "Colby was still a puppy and didn't deserve this."

Marks said the Petco representative she spoke to offered to help her find another puppy, but that she "couldn't bear the thought" of owning another dog right now.

A manager at the Midlothian, Virginia, Petco store declined comment when reached by ABC News. Petco's corporate office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment beyond its statement.

You can read the initial story, here: Dog Dies fromOverheating at Petco Grooming

Washington Humane Society Offers $15 Cat Adoption Fees to Kick off Adopt a Shelter Cat Month - June 1 to June 7

Washington, DC – The Washington Humane Society (WHS) is lowering cat adoption fees in honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month! From Monday, June 1, through Sunday, June 7, cat adoption fees will be reduced to $15 (normally $85).

As we head into summer, the kittens who were born in spring have come of age and are ready to be adopted. Summer is also the time of year when lots of animals are surrendered. Over 300 cats in need of a home come to the Washington Humane Society every month.

All pets adopted from WHS go home spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped at no additional cost to adopters. WHS also offers a voucher for a free wellness checkup for new pets at any of our partner veterinary clinics. Adopters benefit from hundreds of dollars in savings.

WHAT: Cat World Adoption Special

WHEN: Monday, June 1, 2015 to Sunday, June 7, 2015

                12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Washington Humane Society Adoption Centers

                1201 New York Avenue, NE

                7319 Georgia Avenue, NW

                SPECIAL: $15 cat adoption fees

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Washington, DC - Washington Humane Society’s 28th Annual Bark Ball – June 20, 2015 – Tickets Available Now!

DC’s Premiere Black-Tie Gala that all the Dogs are Barking About Washington, DC – Shake out that tux and brush off your “tails”, the Washington Humane Society’s Bark Ball returns for the 28th year on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Guests are invited to celebrate in style at DC’s original black-tie gala for canines and their human companions.

This year we welcome back as Master of Ceremonies, Washington Redskins Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of Media, Larry Michael. Co-Chairs for the event are Terri Fariello, Beth Viola, and Michael Wascom.

The benefit kicks off with a reception, an extensive silent auction and Bark Bar at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner, a formal program, live auction, and dancing from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Leashed dogs are encouraged to attend (no retractable leashes please).

General tickets are $250 each and tables are $2,500. Once again, we are offering a limited number of Young Professionals tickets for those 35 and under at just $150. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception and 3-course meal, along with a special Bark Bar for the pups.

Tickets and tables are available online at www.barkball.org. This event will sell out! Last year’s event brought together 500 dogs and upwards of 1,000 animal advocates, raising over $620,000 to benefit the critical programs and services of the Washington Humane Society. All proceeds from the event will support the more than 51,000 animals WHS provides comfort and care to annually.

To purchase tickets and for more information, including sponsorship information, visit us online at www.barkball.org, call 202-735-0324, or email events@washhumane.org.

A limited number of Bark Ball Press Passes are available. Please contact Rachel Thaler at rthaler@washhumane.org or 202-735-0323 for information.

  

Website: Washington Humane Society

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A Woman Was Killed by a Lion at a Tourist Attraction in South Africa

An American woman killed by a lion Monday at a tourist attraction in South Africa was taking pictures through an open car window when the beast leaped through and fatally bit her, park officials said.

The dead tourist ignored more than 40 signs and verbal warnings about keeping windows closed while visiting the Gauteng Lion Park in Johannesburg, a popular 17-acre attraction visitors drive through in their personal vehicles while the massive animals roam freely.

The unnamed woman, described as in her 30s, was a passenger Monday afternoon when the lioness attacked. The driver, a tour guide, was hospitalized for scratches suffered after he tried to punch the animal once it entered the vehicle.

“They had their windows all the way down, which is strictly against policy,” assistant operations manager Scott Simpson said. “The lion bit the lady through the window.”

The U.S. Embassy in South Africa confirmed an American had been killed, but had yet to identify her.

“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased in this sad incident,” the embassy tweeted.

The lioness will not be euthanized, though the area where the attack occurred will be closed off to the public during an investigation. The rest of the parking will be open and “operating as usual,” Simpson said Tuesday. The 9-year-old lioness will moved to a different property owned by the park that is not open to tourists.

“The park is not closed and it is not closing,” Simpson said. “We have closed off where the incident happened, so those lions won’t be seeing the public until we have had an investigation and we know what exactly happened.”

Celebrity sightings at the park over the years include singers Shakira and John Legend, who visited with his model wife, Chrissy Teigen.

The attack is the third in the park in just four months. An Australian tourist, who admitted to having his window down, was bitten on his legs after a lion jumped in and bit him. He posted graphic photos of the injuries on Facebook.

  

Just two days later, a 13-year-old boy riding a bicycle used the park as a shortcut and was attacked by a cheetah, eNCA reported.

A man walks past warning signs at the Lion Park near Johannesburg where a lion killed an American woman and injured a man driving through a private wildlife park, a park official said.

The attack occurred when a lioness approached the passenger side of the vehicle as the woman took photos through an open window, then lunged, said Scott Simpson, assistant operations manager at the Lion Park.

The signs explicitly read, and show, that windows must be closed at all times.

In March 2014, a woman posted on YouTube a clip showing a lion at a park in South Africa opening a car door with its mouth. The terrifying, minute-long video has since been viewed some 13.6 million times.

Colorado is One of 23 States Where Medical Marijuana is Legal: Can it Really Help Ailing Pets?

Denver, Colorado is one of 23 states where medical marijuana is legal. Some human patients swear by it, but is pot OK for your ailing pets?

CBS Denver station KCNC reports there are some cannabis-containing products now on the market specially designed for cats and dogs.

Chiara Subhas of Denver decided to try it when her 14-year-old rescue dog, Leo, started having seizures. The little Pomeranian was "just violently shaking, his mouth is open, his eyes are rolling back, he's drooling," she told KCNC reporter Kathy Walsh.

Subhas tried changing his diet. Then she went to pot. "We were suggested by our veterinarian in Boulder that we try a medical marijuana product for our dog," she said.

The product is called Canna Companion. Leo started on two capsules a day.

"Shortly after, his seizures definitely decreased," said Subhas.

On the company website, cannaforpets.com, Canna Companion is described as a hemp supplement for cats and dogs. The company calls it a unique blend of cannabis sativa strains with low levels of THC, the ingredient that gets people high.

There are more than a dozen testimonials posted on the site. One cat owner writes that cancer-stricken Harley's "happy purrsonality came back immediately!" And Subhas' own veterinarian writes that the capsules helped Titus, her 13-year-old Great Dane, be "comfy and mobile."

"It's not going to cure cancer. It's not going to stop seizures from happening. But it can help," said veterinarian Dr. Sarah Brandon.

Brandon is co-founder of the supplement company out of Washington state. She stops short of making medical claims. In February, the Food and Drug Administration warned Canna Companion and similar companies to remove unproven health benefits from their marketing.

Brandon told CBS Denver, "It's one more tool in our tool belt and we firmly believe that veterinarians and pet parents should have it available to them if they should choose to use it."

But the FDA warned "consumers should beware purchasing and using any such products."

"I personally am not a big fan of the FDA," said Subhas. "I would not worry so much. I don't worry about that at all."

But some veterinarians are more wary. Dr. Debbie Van Pelt says she isn't ready to recommend cannabis for cats or hemp for hounds.

"I just think that we don't have the evidence right now to document what is safe and what is effective," said Van Pelt.

Van Pelt believes there may be potential in medical pot for pets and she understands why owners try it: "Because people love their animals and they are looking for ways to give them better quality of life," she said.

Subhas sees the change in Leo, and thinks the $75 a month she's spending on medical marijuana for him is worth it. "He's more alert overall. He seems just more comfortable," she said.

Chiara Subhas of Denver says a medical marijuana product helped her 14-year-old Pomeranian, Leo, when he started having seizures.

Dog Dies from Overheating at Petco Grooming

Powhatan County, Virginia - Allison Marks left her 2-year-old golden retriever, Colby, at a Petco store Friday for what she thought would be a routine grooming. When she called to ask about him, though, she was told to go to a nearby animal hospital. There she learned Colby had passed away.

Marks was told by the veterinarian that Colby had likely suffered a heat stroke after being left in a heated cage to dry.

"It sickens me that they could just let something like this happen," she said. "How could he not suffer? He was in a cage for God knows how long."

Marks said the vet explained to her that Colby's temperature was more than 105 degrees one hour after his death.

William Leonard Dodson Has Been Arrested in the Animal Cruelty Case of Caitlyn the Dog That Was Found with Electrical Tape Tightly Wound Around Her Muzzle

Charleston, South Carolina - North Charleston Police have made an arrest in the animal cruelty case that has been spread worldwide.

William Leonard Dodson, 41, is being charged with ill treatment of animals and torture. He was found in the area of Quitman Street and Calvert Street. A judge ordered a $50,000 bond against Dodson on Tuesday morning. At the hearing, the judge asked Dodson if he had any other dogs at home and he said that he did. The judge ordered police to head to his home and take the dog away.

News 2 spoke with Animal Cruelty Investigator Aldwin Roman who said $50,000 doesn't do justice to Caitlyn and what she's been through.

News 2 obtained a copy of Dodson's arrest record. In 2013, Dodson was arrested for driving without a license and was put on probation for six years for possession of a firearm by a convicted violent felon. In 2014, Dodson was arrested for driving under suspension, driving without a license and for failure to appear in traffic court. In 2015, the suspect was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine and the unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Caitlyn the dog was found in critical condition last week on a Good Samaritan's doorstep with electrical tape tightly wound around her muzzle.

The tape was so tight around Caitlyn's muzzle that her tongue was caught between her teeth, stopping blood flow to her tongue. Officials think that the tape was on Caitlyn for up to 36-48 hours.

The Charleston Animal Society Senior Director of Veterinary Care, Dr. Lucy Fuller, DVM, said "Caitlyn is in a lot of pain, her condition is critical, and her prognosis is guarded." She also said that "A large part of her tongue may need to be removed surgically if the tissue dies from the lack of blood flow. She may be severely disfigured, or the large amount of dead tissue may cause life-threatening complications."

The story of Caitlyn, the North Charleston dog who had her muzzle taped shut, is now worldwide.

We talked with one man at the Chinese Deli in the Chicora-Cherokee community. That is where the dog was discovered earlier this week. "You gotta think, what kind of cruel person is gonna take their time to that to a dog?"

"It's many things that's not good that comes through my mind when I hear it...it's cruel. It's degrading. Wrong. Life threatening. Sick. It's like, the mere thought of it is, I mean, why?? That's one question that comes through my mind when I look at it, is why?"

Kelli Klein, the director of emergency care at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mount Pleasant says Caitlyn is doing better. "She's been doing really, really well since transferring to us last night."

Caitlyn was placed in a hyperbaric chamber Friday to give her more oxygen, to help her wounds heal faster. "She's had three full meals. She's been able to (take in food) and swallow it."

She is scheduled for her first surgery either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Treatment for Caitlyn will be paid for by Toby's Fund, Charleston Animal Society's medical fund that is only made possible by donations from the community.

"This is the most malicious case of animal abuse I have ever seen in my entire career," said Charleston Animal Society Director of Anti-Cruelty & Outreach Aldwin Roman. He continued, "to leave this dog in pain, unable to eat or drink and to now leave her in the position where her life is at stake because she may lose her tongue is heartbreaking."

North Charleston Animal Control is investigating the case and looking for whoever is responsible. Charleston Animal Society is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, and Friday the Humane Society of the United States added another $5,000.  If convicted of ill treatment of an animal, the guilty could face up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

You can read the initial story here: $1,000 Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible forTaping a Dog's Muzzle Together with Electrical Tape